West Ham co-chairman Davif Gold has branded suggestions that Avram Grant has only three games to save his job at Upton Park "premature."

Although defeat by his former club Chelsea tomorrow would inevitably increase the pressure on him, Grant's position is not under immediate threat.

Gold said: "While we do not suffer fools gladly, I would also point out that David Sullivan and myself have a track record of standing by the managers we appoint.

"At Birmingham, we left Trevor Francis was in charge for five-and-a-half years, Steve Bruce stayed for five-and-a-half years and we stood by Alex McLeish after relegation so he could take the club back into the Premier League.

"On that basis, it is premature - to say the least - to suggest we are preparing to press the panic button because we do not make these appointments lightly.

"Avram has assembled a new team and everything is in place for him to take the club forward - except points on the board after three games."